Devastated Ladygarden: am concerned after checking out my bits for the first time since birth of dc2

[NoShitIveNameChanged]

have booked an appt with my doc to ask for a referral to a gynae

have been prone to thrush since dc2 born a few months ago. was applying cream yesterday and was concerned about the feel of everything just inside the vagina

decided to investigate with a mirror - first time i've looked since dc2 born. it's bad, really bad. bits all over the shop. i knew they'd made a bit of a hash of the stitching (clear memory of two midwives hunched over me discussing e.g. "shouldn't that bit (points) go there (points)")

the bouts of thrush have all occurred after sex. i never (well, rarely) had thrush before dc2's birth. am not sure that's what it is now, tbh. bits sore and inflamed, so have been treating it as thrush. but maybe it's due to roadkill status of vag???

what do you think? normal to have messed up bits? am i being melodramatic seeing a doc about it?

you may have BV - bacterial vaginosis?

also if DH has not been teated you will get recurring thrush if you are having condom-less sex.

im sorry i have no knowledge of stitches etc but do agree you need an appt. at midwives stitching you as well!

maybe things look different because perhaps something has prolapsed, do u think that would be likely?

If you haven't looked then I think it is naturally to be surprised

Mine looks like someone's thrown the remnants of the Sunday Roast on a serving plate

Does that sound familiar?

indeed, mp

but things weren't this different post dc1's birth

similar births - vaginal, no instruments, first was episiotomy, second a tear

after dc1 i could feel scarring, and the vagina felt... longer? at the opening

but now it all feels bulgy just inside, and there are so many bits just hanging

i was declared AOK at the 6 week appt but i'm really not sure

No well mine was presentable before my second

My grandmother had 10 - can you imagine

PMSL at sunday roast!

sounds like a prolapse

How long ago did you have DC2? It can sometimes take a hellishly long time to recover, particularly if you're always rushing about and not resting the pelvic area. Mine was a terrible mess but after a couple of years I only have a slightly thickened lengthways scar up mine.

A visit to your GP/gynae is definitely in order, even if they declare that the Sunday Roast-look is normal, they can at least check out and advise on the post-coital thrush.

And they can do re-constructive surgery if necessary. Which probably sounds more drastic than it needs to.

it was 7 months ago, norks

After DD1 (2nd degree tear) our practice nurse failed to do my smear test because I hadn't healed properly - that was after 6 months. So don't lose heart just yet.

Let us know what the result is though - I'm having DC4 in May and I don't expect things to be pretty. etc...

will do

I am fairly sure I will opt for surgery once I have decided whether to let another baby out that way (probably not)

Have got to have spinal surgery first to repair disc damage done during giving birth to number 2

kids eh who'd have em

any idea whether private policies generally cover vaginal reconstruction, mp?

Oh you have my absolute sympathy - I found out the other week after too much wine that one should never look at one's ladygarden in a mirror with a headtorch.

Four years on and it is not the prettiest of sites. However I have not recieved any, er, complaints, so I suspect it is one of those looks-worse-than-it-is things.

But def see the doctor and enquire about the possibility of a prolapse.

Well its not that big, honest.

I was just trying to get some more light on it.

Lol stripey

I know.

I wept afterwards and had to go to the pub for gin and tonics with my friend, who made crude jokes about potholers helmets and scaffolding.

But, like I said, I have not had any complaints from anyone who's been down there so it can't be as bad as it looks.

Mind you, they don't head down there with a headtorch...

Stripey stopped it sounds like lots of cavers visit frequently

I've been offered reconstruction on the NHS on the grounds that better care should have been taken to ensure it was sewed up better in the first place

cheery eh

I didn't even fcking ASK

yah I've not had any complaints either

not in writing anyway

Yeah they all tick the smiley face on the feedback forms I hand out.

lol at those of us who couldn't be arsed to namechange.

I lost all shame down Wookey Hole.

I'm not even going to look at mine! I certainly don't like the feel of it (feels a bit lumpy and well NOT RIGHT). Have had 2 tears- one to the back and one to the front and both times midwives gave up stitching and nervously called consultant in to 'finish me off' !

Not had any complaints either but their will be no headtorches going anywhere near it!

Oh and no.3 due in 8 weeks (horrified at thought of more fanjo trauma/devastation- sob)